By: Katie Sobiech

Have you ever thought of what life must be like for police officers or those involved in our safety forces,including fire and communications? How do they cope with the traumatic things they see and experience?

Where do they go for help?

The Summit County Safety Forces Chaplaincy Center (SCSFCC), once known as Furnace Street Mission, is a non-profit that warmly welcomes local safety forces, providing free, confidential counseling and debriefing services for First Responders.

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Written By: Mike Shafarenko

Aided by multiple media, more Ohio residents will be able to meaningfully take part in community decision-making as tech startup Civic Commons becomes a program of ideastream.

The effort is supported by $600,000 from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Since its establishment in 2010 by the Fund for Our Economic Future, Civic Commons has worked with 15 large organizations to involve the public in important community issues. Through activities on the ground and online tools, citizens have been able to weigh in on issues from raising taxes to fund schools to urban redevelopment in blighted areas. Kent State University, for example, hired Civic Commons to engage students and faculty in creating a strategic plan that covers eight campuses and 40,000 students.

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